Korean War, Leaving Cert History

1. New Title: The Korean War
Keywords:
• Seoul
• Pyongyang
• General Douglas MacArthur
• United Nations (UN)
• De-Militarised zone
• Truce
• The ‘Forgotten War’

2. How did the Korean War start?
• At the end of WWII, the Americans occupied South Korea and the Soviets
occupied North Korea.
• They could not agree on what sort of government to elect for Korea, so,
by 1948, two independent states had been set up, North Korea & South
Korea, divided by the 38th parallel.
• South Korea was ruled by anti-communist Syngman Rhee and North
Korea by the Communist dictator Kim Il Sung.
• China was also Communist since 1949 and bordered North Korea. This
gave North Korea more confidence. Both leaders ignored their
‘independent states’ and claimed to rule the whole of Korea.
• The trigger cause of the Korean War is unknown, but Stalin had provided
North Korea with tanks and planes, and Chinese Communists probably
encouraged them too.
• The North Koreans claimed that the South Koreans has crossed the 38th
Parallel, and were just defending themselves.

3. Truman Quote
“Communism was acting in Korea, just as Hitler,
Mussolini and the Japanese had ten, fifteen, and
twenty years earlier. I felt certain that if South Korea
was allowed to fall, Communist leaders would be
emboldened to override nations closer to our own
shores. If the Communists were permitted to force
their way into the Republic of Korea without
opposition from the free world, no small nation would
have the courage to resist threat and aggression by
stronger Communist neighbours”

4. The Korean War
• In June 1950, troops from North Korea invaded
South Korea in attempt to spread communism
• They tried to take control of the majority of the
country
• After China turning communist in 1949, Truman
felt Korea needed resist the spread of communism
• His fear was of a ‘domino effect’ of communism
spreading throughout Asia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzPlkGN5LLg

5. United Nations Intervention
• At the United Nations, the USA argued that a
force should be sent to defend South Korea
• A motion is passed to send a UN force made up of
mostly USA troops
(A number of other countries also sent troops)
• The US force was to be lead by WWII hero,
General Douglas MacArthur
• USSR had been supplying the North Koreans with
weapons for years and continued to supply
weapons during the war
• However, the USSR did not get into direct conflict
with the USA during the war

6. US Response
• When UN troops arrive, they succeed in pushing
North Korean communists back to border with
China
• China intervenes and helps North Korea push the
UN further south again
• There are several back and forth movements in
the war until a stalemate forms

7. Turning point in the war
• General MacArthur was in favour of being more
aggressive towards China. He suggested the use of
Nuclear weapons and possible invasion of China.
• Truman sacks MacArthur but this is unpopular with
the US public
• Turning point in the war comes with Stalin's death in
1953.
• This sees USSR playing less role in war.
• A truce is signed establishing the border between
North and South at the 38th parallel
• The new USSR leaders with China agreed to a ceasefire
and a truce was signed
• A demilitarised zone (DMZ) was created between
North and South

8. Results of Korean War
• Massive increase in Military spending by USA
• A huge number of US casualties
• Stalemate in the war causes growing dissatisfaction with
Truman as president. Eisenhower becomes the next
president
• War proves a success of ‘communist containment’
• Proved USA was committed to stopping Communism
wherever it was to take place in the World
• Lead to further ill feeling between USA & USSR
• This added to the bitterness following the Berlin Blockade
• This distrust was to get worse with the Cuban Missile Crisis